COVID-19 effects on zoos and animal conservation

[taun]

A question about the above three posts. In your countries how is the forced wearing of masks enforced?
This requirement was introduced in the UK a little while ago, but the authorities or owners of the 'enclosed space' are not allowed to insist that masks are worn and the police have refused to get involved and will not enforce it the requirement. There is supposed to be a £100 fine, but there is no-one to enforce it. Peer pressure works in some parts of the country, but not ion others...

A certain percentage will follow it so that how they want it to work but if you have symptoms you should not leave the house, and mask general are there to protect others not you so it seems pointless.

Also if you factor in shop workers are not required to wear them, more likely to go into work feeling unwell as they will lose out on earnings and also come into contact with far more people than I would in my 20mins shopping really does hammer home it all feels very pointless.

 

[MRJ]

A question about the above three posts. In your countries how is the forced wearing of masks enforced?
This requirement was introduced in the UK a little while ago, but the authorities or owners of the 'enclosed space' are not allowed to insist that masks are worn and the police have refused to get involved and will not enforce it the requirement. There is supposed to be a £100 fine, but there is no-one to enforce it. Peer pressure works in some parts of the country, but not ion others...

How odd. In Melbourne Australia currently by law a mask must be worn at all times when outside your own house/property and there is a $200 fine, police enforced. Shops must ensure all staff and customers are masked, and can call for police assistance. What sort of fairy-floss police force do you have?

 

[Maguari]

How odd. In Melbourne Australia currently by law a mask must be worn at all times when outside your own house/property and there is a $200 fine, police enforced. Shops must ensure all staff and customers are masked, and can call for police assistance. What sort of fairy-floss police force do you have?

Without getting too political, I have two perhaps rather contradictory answers:

1 - on the one hand, one that has, to be fair, been under-funded, under-staffed and overworked for years so isn't well placed for the level of enforcement required by this on top of their regular work

2 - on the other hand, one that was very happy to pick on random people during the height of lockdown when there were rules that were unclear and blurry and they could pick on who they chose to humiliate for buying unnecessary chocolate while shopping or taking a bit too long or slow of a walk, but seem much more reluctant to intervene and confront people now there's a clear, specific, readily-enforceable rule...

 

[Simon Hampel]

A question about the above three posts. In your countries how is the forced wearing of masks enforced?
This requirement was introduced in the UK a little while ago, but the authorities or owners of the 'enclosed space' are not allowed to insist that masks are worn and the police have refused to get involved and will not enforce it the requirement. There is supposed to be a £100 fine, but there is no-one to enforce it. Peer pressure works in some parts of the country, but not ion others...

How odd. In Melbourne Australia currently by law a mask must be worn at all times when outside your own house/property and there is a $200 fine, police enforced. Shops must ensure all staff and customers are masked, and can call for police assistance. What sort of fairy-floss police force do you have?

Just FYI @Andrew Swales - if you would like the official line on how Victoria is enforcing mandatory masks - refer to this page: Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Face coverings: whole of Victoria

In New South Wales, we don't have mandatory masks - just a strong recommendation to wear them, especially if you are not able to maintain social distancing or when working in high risk areas.

 

[Andrew Swales]

Just FYI @Andrew Swales - if you would like the official line on how Victoria is enforcing mandatory masks - refer to this page: Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Face coverings: whole of Victoria

Thank you. I can see nothing in this about the practicalities of enforcement. It uses phrases like 'we are asking people to wear masks' - 'you can make one yourself out of a piece of cloth' - 'you can be fined if you dont' - which are just about as vague as the UK.
Do the Melbourne police have the manpower and resources to leave a car-crash everytime a shop assistant rings them? Given Australia is quite a big place, if it takes a while for the police to arrive, does the shop have the power of detention to stop a customer from leaving? Do they have some kind of 'cell' or secure place to detain them in. Is the shop fined for letting them in, or letting them leave? On the website link I could find no indication of the practicalities...
Maguari is quite right, in that the position of the Police has changed drastically since the scare campaigns during lockdown. Presumably this change has come from above...

 

[birdsandbats]

A question about the above three posts. In your countries how is the forced wearing of masks enforced?
This requirement was introduced in the UK a little while ago, but the authorities or owners of the 'enclosed space' are not allowed to insist that masks are worn and the police have refused to get involved and will not enforce it the requirement. There is supposed to be a £100 fine, but there is no-one to enforce it. Peer pressure works in some parts of the country, but not ion others...

In Wisconsin there is a mask mandate in effect in all indoor public spaces until the end of September. It's really only being enforced in big cities.

 

[Andrew Swales]

It's really only being enforced in big cities.

Sorry to be flippant - but how?
Do shop assistants have the power of 'citizens arrest' and then lock the guilty in a cupboard or store-room, until the police can leave another incident?
At the sharp end of this, the practicalities are as import to us, as are the theories...

 

[birdsandbats]

Sorry to be flippant - but how?
Do shop assistants have the power of 'citizens arrest' and then lock the guilty in a cupboard or store-room, until the police can leave another incident?
At the sharp end of this, the practicalities are as import to us, as are the theories...

Fines. I don't remember the exact amount. Even so, despite it not really being enforced, I would say 95% of people I see indoors are wearing masks.

 

[Andrew Swales]

Fines. I don't remember the exact amount. Even so, despite it not really being enforced, I would say 95% of people I see indoors are wearing masks.

FInes dont enforce the requirements, they are what happens after they have been enforced.
We have a fine of UK£100 which seems pretty average, but what I wanted to find out was how shop staff (for example) actually deal with and enforce this.
Begins to look as though it is not actually being enforced ANYWHERE...? Overall it is nowhere near 95% here - maybe within certain 'sectors' of society, but certainly not overall. I guess it depends where you look!

 

[Maguari]

Overall it is nowhere near 95% here - maybe within certain 'sectors' of society, but certainly not overall. I guess it depends where you look!

In the shops I've been to around Chesterfield (and I'm very much not an M&S or Waitrose shopper!), I think 95% sounds about right. Possibly even a little higher. I've been surprised how little disquiet there's been, in fact - I can well believe this varies a lot locally. The only actual conflict on the subject I've seen was when I had cause to call in at the Morrisons in Bolsover, where one chap was very much not keen on either masks or having to stand apart from other people (or indeed, being basically polite to people who are trying to do their jobs..!). Just a classic 'you've no right to tell me what to do' person.

 

[Andrew Swales]

In the shops I've been to around Chesterfield (and I'm very much not an M&S or Waitrose shopper!), I think 95% sounds about right. Possibly even a little higher. I've been surprised how little disquiet there's been, in fact - I can well believe this varies a lot locally. The only actual conflict on the subject I've seen was when I had cause to call in at the Morrisons in Bolsover, where one chap was very much not keen on either masks or having to stand apart from other people (or indeed, being basically polite to people who are trying to do their jobs..!). Just a classic 'you've no right to tell me what to do' person.

...way less than 50% in Bookers Cash&Carry, Peterborough two Saturdays ago - and VERY split between two 'sectors' of their customers - and no attempt at all at policing.
We've changed our suppliers and now have everything delivered!

 

[Jana]

Czech Secretary of Health announced that face masks will be mandatory again in public transport and certain indoor public spaces from 1st September. Seems like animal houses in zoos will belong to this category as well.

I tried to look into our new mask wearing regulation and I think zoos will be impacted only very marginally.

Masks will be mandatory in public transport, taxi and "similar". I think safari rides offered by some zoos will be included into this definition.

Masks will be mandatory for indoor events with +100 participants. I think zoos will try to avoid such situations by organizing all larger events outdoors.

Masks will NOT be mandatory in restaurants, shopping areas and similar spaces. I don´t think animal houses in zoos will be handled differently.

 

[Brum]

one that was very happy to pick on random people during the height of lockdown when there were rules that were unclear and blurry and they could pick on who they chose to humiliate for buying unnecessary chocolate while shopping or taking a bit too long or slow of a walk,

*Raises hand* That'd be me then...

 

[HOMIN96]

Masks will NOT be mandatory in restaurants, shopping areas and similar spaces. I don´t think animal houses in zoos will be handled differently.

Well I wrote this before the PM and Secretary of health backtracked on their words...

 

[KevinB]

Video by the German Zoos.media website explaining why modern zoos are important - even and especially in these times - and why they need all the support they can get to make it through this crisis (in English and German).

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1638528349651884

 

[15399]

Pandemic delays critical vaccine for endangered golden lion tamarins

 

[KevinB]

The Dutch government has decided, a part of a larger economical support package, to give zoos a support package for a maximum total of 39 million euros to help them survive the Covid-19 crisis.

Only institutions with a zoo license that were financially healthy before the crisis will be eligible for receiving money from the support package.

Dierentuinen krijgen opkikker van 39 miljoen
Wat brengen de nieuwe steunmaatregelen de vrijetijdssector? | nrit.nl - trends, nieuws en kennis op het gebied van leisure, toerisme en hospitality
Steun- en herstelpakket: Aanvullende sectorale steun bekend gemaakt - CM Web

 

[HOMIN96]

From tommorow, Czech zoos will be closed for next 14 days as part of "soft-lockdown"

 

[KevinB]

From tommorow, Czech zoos will be closed for next 14 days as part of "soft-lockdown"

Unfortunately the new closure will likely last a lot longer than 14 days, as we have learned from what happened in spring.

I really hope that more countries will not follow soon, but I fear that is only a matter of days or weeks.

I think there is little hope that the current stricter measures taken in most European countries will be sufficient at this point to sufficiently contain this new wave of Covid-19 to allow the prevention of new partial or total lockdowns, including the closure of zoos.

I think the stories that surfaced this summer of problematic social distancing at zoos and attraction parks will play to the disadvantage of zoos in terms of timing of future closures and reopenings.

I think it is now almost unavoidable for things to get extremely bad in Europe this fall and winter, and I fear how massive the impact of zoos of this new crisis phase will get, but I think zoos are heading for extremely bleak times. I think the most we can hope for at this point is that all or at least most zoos will survive this fall and winter and will reopen at all after a possible new closure.

 

[KevinB]

Belgium is currently struggling with a rapidly escalating second wave of Covid-19. Our new federal government that went into office earlier this month, with prime minister Alexander De Croo and federal public health minister Frank Vandenbroucke as spokesmen, tonight announced new measures after a conference with the regional governments. Belgium is now on the highest alert level (alert level 4) below full-on lockdown. This means, amongst others, a midnight to 5 AM curfew, tight limits on family and social contacts, mandatory teleworking for those who can, a ban on alcohol sales after 8 PM and the closure of all restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs starting Monday.

The most important change for zoos is that their restaurants and associated terraces will have to be closed again starting Monday October 18th. Only take-away for food and drinks will still be allowed.

There are still some uncertainties. During tonight's press conferences the ministers only mentioned a review of the protocols for sports and the cultural sector, so it is unclear what will happen to the tourist sector protocol. Our government is also continuing to work on our national Covid-19 barometer, partially based on those protocols, and will be updating that next Friday. So it still remains to be seen whether next week there could be different measures implemented for the tourist sector under the highest alert level.

The Netherlands are now also on the highest alert level and under what prime minister Mark Rutte earlier this week called partial lock-down. Dutch zoos are still allowed to be open, but they have had to close their restaurants and can only offer take-away food and drinks. Face masks in indoor areas (a measure that in Belgium was already implemented upon the post-lockdown reopening of zoos in May) are now also strongly recommended or mandatory in Dutch zoos.

I hope the Belgian government will take a similar route to the Dutch government and only close zoos and tourist attractions under a full-on lockdown scenario, and hopefully that is something our government will never have to implement again, and people and companies will never have to experience again.

With regards to safety measures there are I think some things they could still do to improve safety, such as again making reservations mandatory for all visitors (some parks like Antwerp and Planckendael currently do not have mandatory reservations for membership card holders), making face masks mandatory everywhere in zoos (except when sitting down to eat or drink), perhaps further lowering the visitor capacity, closing certain indoor areas and increased supervision and enforcement.

It does remain to be seen whether some planned events, such as the light festivals at Antwerp and Planckendael, will be able to take place at all. They won't start until late November and the measures have been implemented for 4 weeks, but some of them will likely have to be extended. It will all depend on what will be possible for events, but I don't think it will be much at all. I think those events will likely have to be cancelled, unfortunately.

I really, really hope that the very necessary measures our government has taken will be observed well by the people and will help to get this second wave under control so that the situation improves and we can avoid at all cost the horror scenario of a second lockdown.